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Lineman’s Rodeo raises funds for International Program

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives hosted its Third Annual Lineman’s Rodeo Sept. 4-5 at the association’s headquarters in Jefferson City. The event — designed to let linemen show off the skills they use on the job — also raised funds for future projects that send Missouri linemen to developing nations to build power lines for people living without the benefits of electricity.

CREC team of Mike Hartley, Jonathan Pauk and Jacob Tiefenthaler with First Lady Teresa Parson

First Lady Teresa Parson visited the event Thursday morning and spoke with the linemen on the importance of their work abroad while presenting the first-ever Governor’s Cup, which went to Barry Electric Cooperative’s team. “Electricity can change and improve lives through better education, health care, utilities and economic opportunity,” she said. “It also brings agricultural activity, new jobs and a better quality of life to rural communities around the world. These are the same benefits that rural Missouri received through the cooperatives that were established more than 80 years ago.”

The two-day event consists of team and individual competitions in apprentice and journeyman divisions. Some of the challenges include the Hurt-Man Rescue and Modified Pole Climb. Linemen were also faced with a 100-question knowledge test and mystery events they had little time to prepare for, such as navigating an obstacle course with a weight suspended from the boom on a digger-derrick truck. Competitors were judged on how safely they completed each challenge. Individual times were only used in the case of a tiebreaker.

“Safety is always the first concern for co-op crews when they head out to work,” said AMEC’s Craig Moeller, who organized the event and also leads Missouri’s International Program. “The Lineman’s Rodeo is a great opportunity for them to practice the challenges they face every day and reinforce the training they need to get home safely.”

The AMEC Lineman’s Rodeo is a fundraiser for international electrification projects sponsored by Missouri’s electric cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Three teams of lineworkers from Missouri’s electric co-ops have traveled to developing areas in Bolivia to help rural communities see their lights turned on for the first time. In December a new team will travel to Guatemala to electrify the village of Trapachitos.

A total of 48 linemen from nine cooperatives in Missouri, including Cuivre River Electric, took part in the safety, skills and knowledge competition. More than $30,000 was raised, thanks in large part to the 48 sponsors who stepped up to support the effort.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.